I was at the Daily Grind earlier today and they’ve started carrying Aceh Relief Blend. (“For every pound of Relief Blend we sell, we will donate $1.00 to the fund.”) I of course had to have it, and I’m happy to report that it’s very tasty. More important, though, it got me thinking, could you eat and drink nothing but food where a portion of the cost goes to some worthy social cause?

I suppose Fred would say that the cost of fresh, local produce goes to a worthy social cause: local farmers. And I’d have to agree with him on that. I (we) shop the Carrboro Farmers’ Market nearly every Saturday when it’s on, both because the food is better and because I just believe in supporting local businesses. But I mean for the rest of the stuff we eat: all the prepared foods, like coffee.

(As an aside, the Fig Newton was apparently named after my hometown of Newton, MA. Back in 1986 or so, on the 100th birthday of the Fig Newton, Nabisco hosted a big celebration in Newton and donated a bunch of fig trees to the city, which were planted on the city hall lawn. Which, when you think about it, is kind of silly, since no way will a fig tree produce fruit in Massachusetts. Anyway… Once upon a time there was a large cookie-making industry in MA. The Nestle Toll House? In Whitman, MA. But whatever other cookies once existed are now extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.)

Anyway, I can’t think of any food companies other than Newman’s that donate to social causes. Anyone who can, please post a comment! I may change my shopping habits.

Visit community-owned Weaver Street. Yes they give back to the community regularly and in various ways.
See the discussions on orangepolitics.org some would say that Harris Teeter and Food Lion’s gives to education based on their VIP cards should count as a contribution.
Great Harvest Bread does regular and generous fund raising for community groups.
Even Chick-fila does school fundraising nights. that was the only occassion i’ve eaten there — a glennwood school fundraiser.
Boston Chicken which has healthier birds gives to breast cancer.
for a long time Domino’s (or their founders) gave substantial finds to anti-abortion groups.